The iPhone 17 Pro Max continues to demonstrate remarkable efficiency, outperforming rivals with far larger batteries in real-world testing. In a recent comparison by TechDroider, the iPhone 17 Pro Max powered down just five minutes before the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, despite the latter housing a 7,500mAh battery—55 percent larger than Apple’s 4,823mAh unit used in the test. The results highlight Apple’s continued lead in performance per watt, even against competitors using top-tier hardware and higher battery capacities.
The eSIM version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max carries a slightly larger 5,088mAh battery, but even the smaller variant held its ground against Android’s biggest battery champion. Observers suggest that if Apple adopts silicon-carbon batteries in future models, efficiency could improve even further.
The test also included the Xiaomi 15 Pro, OnePlus 13, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max lasted 13 hours and 36 minutes at 47.6 degrees Celsius, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max followed closely at 13 hours and 31 minutes with a cooler 43.1 degrees Celsius. Other results showed the Xiaomi 15 Pro at 12 hours and 31 minutes, the OnePlus 13 at 11 hours and 56 minutes, the Pixel 10 Pro XL at 11 hours and 28 minutes, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 11 hours and 20 minutes.
Analysts noted that the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s higher battery drain could stem from its custom interface, which reportedly triggered thermal throttling at one point in the test. Despite a smaller battery, Apple’s device maintained lower temperatures and more stable performance, reaffirming its dominance in energy efficiency and thermal management.
The eSIM version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max carries a slightly larger 5,088mAh battery, but even the smaller variant held its ground against Android’s biggest battery champion. Observers suggest that if Apple adopts silicon-carbon batteries in future models, efficiency could improve even further.
The test also included the Xiaomi 15 Pro, OnePlus 13, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Galaxy S25 Ultra. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max lasted 13 hours and 36 minutes at 47.6 degrees Celsius, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max followed closely at 13 hours and 31 minutes with a cooler 43.1 degrees Celsius. Other results showed the Xiaomi 15 Pro at 12 hours and 31 minutes, the OnePlus 13 at 11 hours and 56 minutes, the Pixel 10 Pro XL at 11 hours and 28 minutes, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra at 11 hours and 20 minutes.
Analysts noted that the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s higher battery drain could stem from its custom interface, which reportedly triggered thermal throttling at one point in the test. Despite a smaller battery, Apple’s device maintained lower temperatures and more stable performance, reaffirming its dominance in energy efficiency and thermal management.
